Jay then hit her in the face several times. A witness saw the attacker’s hand around her throat and another over her mouth as he straddled her whilst on the ground.

Concerned neighbours heard the screams and came to her aid.

Neighbours gathered up her belongings that had fallen from her bag during the unprovoked attack.

A couple of days later the victim went to her bag and found that it contained a baseball cap that did not belong to her.

This was sent off for analysis and found to have DNA from Stephen Jay within it.

Jay had been convicted of the attack in May at Lewes Crown Court, but the jury was hung on whether this assault was with intent to commit a sexual act.

After a retrial on the sexual element of the case at Brighton Crown Court in July a second jury was also unable to agree a verdict.

At his first trial in May, Jay had also been found not guilty of causing actual bodily harm and sexual assaulting a 21-year old woman walking in Hanover Terrace, Brighton on September 1st.

Stephen Jay is a former town pastor from Ipswich who was training to be a life coach to provide help to those who need it including the vulnerable. His work as a town pastor meant that he used to work during evenings in the city centre of Ipswich proving support for those often found vulnerable through drink and drugs. He was also a prominent member of his local church."

"Far from protecting the vulnerable, this investigation has shown him to be a wolf in sheep’s clothing; someone who targeted a lone woman walking home in the early hours of the morning and violently assaulted her in an unprovoked attack. Jay admitted that during that evening leading up to the attack and the early hours of the morning immediately afterwards, he was having a sexual conversation with another woman who he was having an online affair with, discussing his liking for bondage, domination and sado-masochism. After the assault, he admitted masturbating in his car in a public place."

"I would urge anyone, no matter where they are from or how long ago the offence occurred, if they believe they are the victim of an assault, sexual or otherwise, to report it to police on 101. Your call will be handled sensitively and confidentially."

A former bus driver has been jailed for nine years after admitting sexual offences against girls and young women.

Mark Spalding, 29, formerly of Brighton, but now living in Thakeham, admitted eight sexual assaults, against a woman aged 21, a woman aged 30, a girl aged 14 and a girl aged 13. He also admitted inciting the younger girl into sexual activity.

The offences were committed over a period of 19 months while Spalding was working for Brighton and Hove Buses.

An estimated 300,000 people are expected to descend on Brighton this weekend for one of the UK's biggest annual summer Pride celebrations.

The Pet Shop Boys will headline the event in Brighton and Hove in what will be the duo's first Pride performance in 20 years, organisers said.

Other acts include Years & Years, Louisa Johnson and David Morales. Saturday is the main day of celebrations, with a carnival parade starting at Hove Lawns followed by a ticketed event in Preston Park.

Credit: ITV Meridian

The streets of Brighton will be a rainbow of colours this weekend as the city prepares to celebrate Pride.

The first ever LGBT event took place in the city in 1973.

Credit: ITV Meridian

300,000 people are expected to attend but this year's party will have special significance as it's been 50 years since homosexuality was decriminalised in England.